Laundry marking-tag-attaching machine



March 1,1927.

A. L. FAUST LAUNDRY MARKING TAG ATTACHING MACHINE Filed Auz. 25. 1921 4 3a ea' 9 as a/ 3 "f e .36 7 32 i0 l3 ,e .22

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZOZQZM March 1,1927. 1,619,25}

A. L. FAUST LAUNDRY MARKING TAG ATTACHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23. 192] 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. FAUT LAUNDR! EMRKERG TAG ATTACHINQ MACHINE Mall-ch 1, 1,619,251

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

l,lil9,25l

. UNITED STATES PATENT orrica.

ALEXANDER L. FAUST, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL MARKING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION.

LAUNDRY MARKING-TAG'r-AT'IACHING MACHINE.

Application filed August 23, 1921. Serial No. 494,682.

At the present time laundry articles are marked for identification in severalways, for instance by printing machines in which the owners name or mark is printed direct on the laundry articles with indelible ink.

' These printing machines, however, cannot be used on dark colored laundry articles, such, for instance, as black stockings, and furthermore the mark itself on certain articles is very objectionable on account of its appearance, as, for -instance, on ladies handkerchiefs.

For use in marking articles such as black stockings, white cloth tags are sometimes 1 permanentlysewed to the article, and then the identification mark is made with a printing machine on these white tags. This'procedure is objectionable because it is too' e2;-

pensive, the labels permanently fixed to the 2 laundry articles are objectionable to many peoplaand the use'of this plan is applicale only to articles such, for instance, as stockings.

Metal tags bearing suitable identification marks are also provided, and are attached to the laundry articles by some sort of pin or clamp device. These, however, are objectionable because when'delicate handkerchiefs are thus identified and passed through the washing and ironing process, the metal tags frequently tear the delicate fabrics, and they also occasionallybecome detached and laundry articles are thereby lost.

My object is to provide amachine of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, in the nature of an attachment to a sewing machine, for the purpose of identifying laundry articles and avoiding all of the objections heretofore noted in connection with other methods of marking.

More specifically it is my object to provide laundry marking tags formed of flat pieces of woven fabric or tape, and upon which the laundry identification mark is rinted, and to provide these fabric tagsin ar e numbers all bearing the same identification mark, so that they may be produced very cheap.

A further object is to provide simple and inexpensive containers for the previously printed cloth tags, which containers may be readily, quickly and easily selected from a rack containing a large number of the containers, and set into the label attaching machine for use.

A further object is to provide a device of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, designed to be readily and quickl applied to a sewing machine, and which evice is designed to receive a container having said tabric tags therein, said attachment being so arranged that a laundry article may be placed on the sewing machine and when the operator touches a lever one of the tags will be removed from the container and placed in position on the laundry article to be marked, and then the sewing machine will be automatically actuated to sew the tag to the fabric, and as soon as this is accomplished the sewing machine will be automatically stopped, wherebythe operator may quickly, conveniently and easily attach the tags to the laundry articles without any attention to the machine other than the placing oiithe laundry article in position and the touching of a lever.

A further object is to provide a tag of this kind which may be attached to the laundry article in the manner described, for identification purposes, which tag will not in any way injure the article, as is sometimes done with metal tags, and no permanent mark of any kind will be made on the article, and the article may be thoroughly washed under the tag, which is sometimes impossible with metal tags, and when the washing, ironing and assorting have been completed all the tags may be readily and quickly removed and thrown away, thereby avoiding the objections incident to the use of permanently applied ta or identification marks printed on the iundry articles.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a part of a sewing machine having my tag applying attachment applied thereto.

Figure 2 shows a rear elevation of same.

Figure 3 showsanenlarged, detail, sectional view, illustratin the main shaft of the tag applying attac ment and the parts mounted thereon.

Figure 4 shows an enlarged detail view illustrating the cam device for operating the sewing machine controlling switch.

Figure 5 shows an enlarged, detail, sectional view through the sewing machine resser foot, and illustrating the part of the device for removin the tags from the container and delivering them to position on the laundry article and beneath the presser foot.

Figure 6 shows an enlarged, detail, sectional view, on the line 66 of Figure 7.

Figure 7 shows a vertical, central, sectional view through the lower end of one of the tag containers and the supporting socket in which it is aimed in the tag attaching machine. The otted lines in this figure indicate the position of the tag removing device and a tag after it has been removed from the container.

Figure 8 shows a side elevation of a part of a sewing machine with my device attached thereto, illustrating the motor for operating the sewing machine controlled by the tag attaching device.

Figure 9 shows an enlarged, detail, sectional view of a part of a laundry article having one of my improved tags sewed thereto in the manner in which the sewing is done with my improved machine.

Figure 10 is a top or plan view of same.

Figure 11 shows a view similar to Figure 1, but taken from the opposlte side.

Figure 12 shows a view similar to Figure 1 and illustrating a modification, with the tag carryin device in position for forcing a tag under the presser foot, and with the automatic starting and stopping device in the position it assumes when the label carrying device is at the lower limit of its movement.

Figure 13 shows an enlarged detail view illustrating the ratchet device for stopping and starting the tag conveying device; and

Figure 14 shows a perspective view illustrating one of the tag containers mounted in the supporting socket.

Referrin to the accompanying drawings, I have use the reference numeral 10 to indicate that portion of a sewing machine therein illustrated. It is provided with an electric motor 11, by which it is operated.

This mwing machine is provided with a vertically movable presser foot 12, mounted on a presser bar 13 which is normally held downwardly by the spring 14. 15 indicates the sewing machine needle. and 16 the base late on which the work is supported durm the sewing operation.

1e sewing machine proper forms no part of my present invention, and hence is not herein specifically illustrated or described. I prefer, however, to use a sewing machine of the type commonly known as a barring machine, and which will make stitches that will not readily unravel, so that a tag may be sewed to a laundry article and the tag held firmly enough so that it will not be displaced during the washing or assorting process, and then the stitches may be readily and easily cut with a pair of scissors to remove the tag.

My improved attachment comprises a main supporting plate 17, which is fixedly secured to a part of the sewing machine adja'cent to the presser foot. This plate 17 sup orts a small electric motor 18, with its sha t 19 extended downwardly. On the lower end of the shaft 19 is a small worm gear 20. Extended transversely of the shaft 19 is the main driving shaft 21 of my improved attachment. On this driving shaft 21 is a worm gear 22, loosely mounted, and it is in mesh with the worm gear 20 by which it is driven. On the interior of the worm gear 22 is a ratchet toothed rim 23, shown in Figure 13, for purposes hereinafter made clear. The worm gear 22 is constantly driven by its motor 18, and when it is desired to have the tag attaching device operate. the shaft 21 is operatively connected with the worm gear 22 asv follows:

24 indicates a treadle' pivoted to a suitable 7 support and connected by a rod 25 with a lever 26, which lever has a shoulder 27 at its outer end. The lever is fulcrumed to a suitable support 28 on the plate 17 and said lever is also provided with an upwardly extending arm 29 to which a spring 30 is applied to yieldingly hold the end-of the lever on which the shoulder 27 is formed, downwardly. Pivotally mounted on the same- .in Figure 1. This arm 33 has on its lower end, as clearly shown in Figure 13, a laterally extending lug 3 1 with an extensible coil spring 35 mounted thereon and extending upwardly. Fulcrumecl to the arm 33 is a lever 36, extended upwardly and designed to coact with the shoulder 27 ofthe lever 26, as will hereinafter appear. On the lower end of the lever 36 is fixed .a pawl 37, its under surface being engaged by the spring 35, which tends to hold it outwardly into engagement with the ratchet teeth 23.

When these parts are all at rest, as shown inFigure 1, the worm gear 22 is turning loosely on the shaft 21. When, however, the treadle 24 is depressed, the shoulder 27 is elevated above the lever 36 so that the upper end of this lever may be moved by the spring 35 in such direction that the pawl 37 may engage the ratchet teeth 23. During this operation the arm 31 prevents the lever 33 from moving in one direction, so that it forms a solid support for the s ring 35" to work against in pushing the paw v37 lnto.

engagement with the ratchet teeth23. As soon, however, as said pawl has been brought into engagement with the ratchet teeth 23, then the shaft 21 on which the arm is fixed begins to rotate in unison with the worm gear 22, and this rotation continues for one complete revolution or until the lever against movement in one direction.

From the description of the foregoing mechanism, it is obvious that when the treadle has been depressed, the shaft 21 will .make one complete revolution and then stop.

During the revolution of the shaft 21 it is desirable that during the first part of the revolution the tag affixing mechanism be operated to place a tag in position, and then immediately thereafter, or during the latter part of the revolution of the shaft 21, the sewing machine be operated to sew the tag to the article to be identified. I have provided for these operations as follows:

Fixed to the shaft 21 is a crank wheel 38, having a crank in 39 thereon, to which is pivoted a rack ar 40. This rack bar is mounted in a suitableguide 41, and is in mesh with a pinion 42. A rotation of this pinion 42 will operate the tag aflixing device, as will hereinafter be made clear. The arrangement of these parts is such that during the first part of the revolution of the shaft 21, the tag will be brought to the position for sewing. and then during the last part of the revolution the. tag carrying mechanism will be returned to normal position, as. shown in Figure 1. i

In order to automatically operate th sewing machine at the instant when the tag has been brought to position for sewing, have provided the following mechanism:

Fulcrumed to the late 17 is a bell crank lever 43, having a s otted arm 44 designed to receive a pin 45 on the sewing machine shaft 13. On the downwardly extending part of the lever 44 is a roller 46, and adjacent to this roller is a cam 47 fixed to the shaft 21. The shape of this cam is such that during the first portion of the movement of the shaft 21 the roller 46 is not moved, and during the last part of the rotation of the shaft 21 the roller is permitted to move to-- closes a circuit through the conductor wires 50 leading to the motor 11, which operates the sewing machine. Hence the sewing machine is operated during the latter part of the rotation of the shaft 21. and is automatically stopped at about the completion. of a rotation of the shaft 21.

I shall next describe the means for supporting the tags and for moving them one by one to sewing position.

The tags proper are indicated in Figure 10 by the numeral 51. As herein illustrated, the tags are preferably rectangular in shape, and may be made of tape having two selvagc edges. The shape of the tag, however, is not important, and may be varied as may be desired, and it is not ofany particular importance that the edges be selvaged. Each tag has printed upon it a laundry identification mark of the kind in ordinary use. All

For instance, assuming that in a certain laundry it is irdesired to use two hundred different identification marks, then there will be two hundred of said vpaper containers, each filled with tags bearing the same identification marlnbut the tags in one container will have a different identification mark from the tags in each of the other containers.

In this connection, it is obvious that these tags bearing identification marks may be supplied to laundries very cheaply, because the identification marks may be printed thereon before they are supplied to-a laundry, and the printing may be done on an ordinary printing machine and in large quantities.

These containers 52 are preferably open at both ends, and are uniform throughout their length, and I also preferably provide a weight 53 to rest upon the top of the tags in the container to normally force them downwardly toward the bottom.

Mounted upon the side of the sewing machine, adjacent to but above the presser foot. is a socket 54, to slidingly receive and support the lower end of the container as shown in Figure 7. This socket is supported in a suitable bracket The bottom 56 of the socket, as shown in Figure 6, is provided with two slots 57, spaced apart. The weight 53 forces the tags 51 downwardly until they rest upon the bottom 56, and the front of the socket 54 adjacent to the bottom is cut away so that the lowermost tag may be engaged and drawn forwardly from the socket.

In this connection it is desirable that only one tag at a time be thus drawn out, and it sometimes happens that these tags vary in thickness. For this reason I have provided a gauge device 58, vertically adjustable within the socket at the open front thereof near the bottom. This gauge device is made vertically adjustable by the set screw 59 in the lug 60 entering a screw-threaded opening in the lug 61 of the gauge device, as clearly shown in Figures 6 and 7. By this means the gauge device may be so set that only one tag at a time may be drawn out from the under portion of the socket.

In order to provide for moving the tags from the socket to sewing position, I have provided the curved, yielding guide plate 62, with its upper end arranged just in front of the gauge device 58 and its body portion curved outwardly, downwardly and then inwardly to a position slightly above the base 16 and adjacent to the presser foot. The yielding feature of the guide plate permits it to adjust itself to different thicknesses of the cloth.

The device for engaging the tags and moving them to sewing position comprises a shaft 63, loosely mounted in a support 64 on the frame plate 17, which shaft has the pinion 42 fixed thereon and in mesh with the rack bar 40. Fixed to the shaft 63 are two upwardly extending arms 65, and each arm has at its upper end a spring wire hook 66, and this hook is yieldingly held upwardly and in a direction toward the guide plate 62.

In use with this portion of the device, and assuming that the rack bar 40 is moved, then the spring wire hook 66 will engage the lower tag, as shown in Figure 7, and a continued movement thereof will convey the lower tag forwardly from the container to the under or inner surface of the guide 62,

and the said tag will be moved on said guide downwardly until the tag is projected under the presser foot and on top of the laundry article 67 which is resting upon the base 16, and it will be held by said hooks in this position until the presser foot is lowered and the rack bar moved in an opposite direction to again elevate the arms 65, the hooks being so sha ed that during this elevating movement tiey will withdraw from the tag.

In practical operation in a laundry, the operator takes a bundle of laundry articles and then selects one of the tag containers from the case or rack in which they are placed, and places this container with its tags in the socket in front of the sewing machine, it being understood that the tags in this container have all been previously provided with the same identification mark. Then the operator places the laundry articles, one at a time, on the sewing machine base beneath the presser foot, and then touches the treadle 24, with the result that the hooks 66 will be moved forwardly, with the lowermost tag engaged by them, and the tag will then be held by the hooks against the guide 62 until the hooks reach the lower limit of their movement, in which position the tzg is held under the presser foot and on top 0 the article to be marked. Then the sewing machine is automatically operated, and the tag. sewed to, the article to be marked, while the arms bearing the hooks 66 will return to position in engagement with the next tag in the bottom of the container.

All of the articles in the particular bundle are supplied with tags from the same container. Then they may be put through the ordinary laundry processes of washing, ironing, assorting, etc., and during these processes it is obvious that the flexible fabric tag will not in any way interfere with the thorough washing of the laundry'article beneath the tag. Furthermore, the tag does not in any way interfere with the process of lroning, and there is no danger of having delicate fabrics torn on account of the fabric tags.

After the laundry articles have all been assorted, then the operator removes all of the tags by cutting the stitches that connect them to the laundry articles, and the tags are thrown away, and the laundry articles are returned without any identification mark on them to disfigure them.

Obviously the danger of loss of an article in thelaundry processes is, by my improved tag, reduced to a minimum, because a tag is firmly sewed to each article so that it cannot become accidentally removed in the laundry processes, and furthermore there is no danger of the tag becoming caught or entangled with other garments, or with a washing or roning machine, so that there is practically no danger of the tag becoming torn loose from the garment to which it is attached. Hence loss to the laundry by reason of lost or torn laundry articles is reduced to a mini- 1 mum.

The average bundle of laundry articles contains perhaps thirty pieces, and one of my cartons full of tags contains approximately a thousand tags. It is to be understood in this connection, that it is only necessary to supply enough of the containers, each bearing tags having different identification marks, for use inthe laundry'iluring a certain period of time, say, for instance, one day. At the end of the day all of the articles that were marked during the days work have been assorted and distributed, so that on the next day, or the next period of time for the laundry operation, the same containers of tags may he used over again, so that it is not necessary to refill the containers after a sing'lebundle of laundry articles has been marked. 7

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a container designed to hold a series of disconnected independent tags arranged one above the other, a device 'for tion resting upon a garment tobemarked,

withdrawing the tags one at a time from the container and 'for moving them to posisigned to receive a series of independent disconnected tags arranged one above the other,

means for supporting the container adjacent to the sewing machine, means for withdraw-- ing the tags one at a time from the container and for moving them to position under the ,presser foot of the sewing machine, said means including a pointed finger to engage and penetrate, the under surface ot'the tag, and means for automatically actuating the sewing machine upon the completion of the signe movement which brings the tag to position under the presser foot. a

3. The combination with a sewing'machine havin a presser foot, of -acontainer deto receive a series of independent disconnected tags arranged one above the other, means for supporting the'conta-iner adjacent to the sewing machine, means for w thdrawing the tags oneat a time from the COIltfllIlGIi and for moving them to position under the presser foot of the sewing v havin machine, said means including a pointed fin- 'er to engage and penetrate the under sur- ?ace of the tag, means for automatically actuating, the sewing machineupon the coinpletion of. the movement which brings the tag'to position underthe presser foot, and

means for automatically lowering-the presser footto position forholdingthe tag in position for sewing to a garment.

4, The combination witha sewing machine a presser foot, of a "container .de-

signe to receive-a series-0f independent disconnected tags arranged one above the other, means for supporting the; container adj a cent to the sewing machine, means for withdrawing the tags one at a time from the container and for moving them to position un I der the presser foot of the sewing machine,

said means including a pointed finger to engage and penetrate the under surface of the tag, means for automatically actuating the sewing machine upon the completion of the movement which brings the tag to position under the presser foot, means for auto-,. matically lowering the presser foot to position for holding the tag in position for-sewing to a garment, and means for automati cally elevating the pres'-er foot upon the return movement of the means for moving the tag toward the presser foot. 5. The combination with a sewing ma- :ing the tag toward the means for automatically chine having a presserfoot, of a container designed to receive a series of independent disconnected tags arranged one above the other, means for SUPPOIUII" the container adjacent tothe sewing macliine, means for withdrawing the tags one at .a time from the container and for moving them to position under the presser foot of the sewing machine, said means including a pointed finger-to engage and penetrate the under surface of the tag, means for automatically actuatingthe sewing machine u on the completion of the movement whic i br1ngsthe tag to position under the presser foot, means for, automatically loweringthe presser foot to position for holding 'thetag in' position for sewing to a garment, means for automatically elevating the presser foot upon the return movement of the means formovgresser foot, and iscontinumg the operation of the sewing machineupon the return movement of the means for moving the tag to position under the presser foot.

6. The combination with a sewing ma chine having a presser foot,-of a container designed to contain a series of independent disconnected tags arrangedone above theother, there being an opening in ithebottom tags may be. removed, an arcu'ate guide adjacent to said opening extending from the opening to a polnt adjacent to the presser 'footof-the sewing" machine, and means for engaging the undermost tag in the container and moving it out through the opening 1n the container and downwardly against said arcuate guide to a reversed position under the ,presser foot without disturbing or moving the other tags within the container, said guide having a yielding lower end whereby it may adjust itself to garments of different thicknesses on the sewing machine.

7.. In-a device'of the class described, the

portion of the container through which the combination with a sewing machine having I a presser foot, of a container designed to contain a series of independent disconnected tags, said conta ner having an opening at its bottom through which the lowermost tag may be remove two arms spaced apart from each other and capable of arcuate movement, and spring actuated hooks carried by said arms and designed when in one position to engage the lowermost tag, and

when operated to carry said tag outwardly from thecontainer and through an arc to,

an inverted position under the presser foot of the sewing machine.

8. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a sewing machine having a presser foot, of acontainer designed to contain a series of independent disconnected tags, said container havingi an opening at its bottom through which t e lowermost tag may be removed, two armsispaced apart from eaclrother and ca able of arcuate movement, spring actuate hooks carried b said arms. and designed when in one position to engage the lowermost tag, and when operated to carry said tag outwardly from the container and through an arc to an inverted position under the presser foot of the sewing machine, andan arcuate guide to to act with said sprin hooks.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with a sewing machine, of a container designed to contain a series of independent disconnected tags, means for withdrawing the ta s one at atime from the container and p acing them in position for sewing, a shaft, means operated by said shaft for actuating the said tag withdrawing mechanism, a constantly rotating member associated with the shaft, manually operated means for connecting the constantly rotating member with the shaft, so that the shaft may be driven a complete revolution, said means for connecting the constantly rotating member with the shaft bein also designed to stop the shaft at the end of a complete revolution, and means operated by said shaft for automatically operating the sewing machine after the shaft has moved through the initial part of its revolution, said means being automatically moved to inoperative position u on the completionof the rotation of the s iaft.

10. The combination with a'sewin machine having a presser foot, of an e ectric motor for operating the sewing machine, a

container designed to contain a series of im dependent disconnected tags, means for removing the tags from the container and placing them in position under the presser foot of the sewing machine, a shaft, a constantly driven rotatable member loosely 'ioot moved downwardly, and an electric switch device in the circuit of the sewing machine motor, associated with said lever and arranged to close the circuit when the presser foot has been moved downwardly, said cam being also so arrangodilas to return the lever to position for elevatin the presser foot at the completion of a single revolution of said shaft.

ALEXANDER FAUST. 

